How to Attend a Funeral When You Have Health Concerns

Attending a funeral is never easy. But what do you do if it is cold and flu season and you have a compromised immune system? You want to attend and show support and love for the family and the deceased, but you are worried about getting sick. One option is to attend virtually if the family is streaming the service, however, this option isn’t always available. Fortunately, if you practice a few safety tips, you can still attend services at funeral homes in Eugene, OR., and help protect yourself from getting sick.

While there is never any guarantee, practicing these simple tips can reduce your chances of catching what is going around. These tips include:

• Wear a mask – We are no strangers to wearing a mask. Ever since Covid-19, facemasks have become a very common sight. Wearing a facemask can help you greatly reduce your chances of breathing in any cold and flu germs.
• Don’t share food or drinks – If you are sharing food or drinks with someone, you will have a higher risk of contracting a cold or flu should they have it. To keep yourself safe, do not share any food or drinks or take food from anyone else’s plate.
• Avoid hugging or shaking hands – We are all too familiar with the phrase “social distancing”, but it is drilled into our heads for a reason. The closer you are in contact with someone with Covid, the more likely chance you will contract it as well. This is no different from a cold and flu. The closer you are and the more contact you have with someone who has a cold or flu, the more likely you are to get infected.

If you are wanting to attend a service in person, but are not sure if you should due to your own health reasons, there are some things you can ask yourself to help you decide.

• Your Overall Health – If you are at all in a high-risk category, talk to your doctor about wanting to attend and see if they approve.
• Relationship to the Deceased – If you were very close to the deceased, you may wish to attend the service. However, if your relationship with the deceased was a distant one, it might be better if you attend virtually (if there is that option), or simply skip the service and send funeral flowers or a care package instead.
• Travel Distance – Consider travel distance and what type of transportation you will be taking. This is an important thing to consider because if you are needing to take a plane, that may put you at a higher risk of catching an infection since you will be around so many people than if you are simply driving in your car.
• Virtual Option – Check and see if there is a virtual option to view the service. Many funeral homes have live streaming available. Also with platforms such as Facebook

If you follow these tips, you will be less likely to catch something when attending services from funeral homes in Eugene, OR. Although there is never any guarantee so if you are at all concerned or have questions, talk with your healthcare provider before attending.